"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
John Gaquin wrote:
"Harry Krause" wrote in message
news:S82dnc5qiZNLSwXcRVn-

Norway tops UN quality-of-life index

... a United Nations study has ranked Norway
as the best place to live in the world.

.... the world's countries are ranked
according to the Human Development Index, a system for determining
standard of living.

...created the index in order to measure the extent of human
development... order to reach the UN's Millennium Goals,
countries must strive to become inclusive, culturally diverse societies.


Millennium Goals
.... the report shows how far the United Nations have come in
implementing the Millennium Goals that were agreed upon in 2000.


The top 20:
1. Norway
2. Sweden
3. Australia
4. Canada
5. Netherlands
6. Belgium
7. Iceland
8. United States
9. Japan
10. Ireland
11. Switzerland
12. Britain
13. Finland
14. Austria
15. Luxembourg
16. France
17. Denmark
18. New Zealand
19. Germany
20. Spain

LOL

Consider the source; ignore the blather.

Query: What shall be deduced from the fact that Nos 1-7 on the list are
all
heavily socialistic in some or all aspects of their societal structure.
Could the UN be using agenda-biased evaluation standards? Say it isn't
so!!


The evaluation standards were published. They weren't "socialistic."

And
what, by the way, are socialistic standards? As just one example,
virtually all western nations but the United States make health care
readily available to all their people. Is that your criteria for
socialism? Are you saying that the materialism that rules the United
States is somehow better because it allows a larger but still tiny
minority to become mutli-millionaires?

Family values weighed heavily in this evaluation. Since 48% of America
voted against family values in 2004, it's really no wonder that we didn't
finish in the top 10.

"Although rising incomes and expanded individual choices are highly
valued," the report says, "some factors associated with modernisation, such
as the breakdown of traditional institutions and the erosion of family
values, in part offset its positive impact."





Query: Why is the USA still far and away the #1 preferred destination
for
immigrants?

The star of the United States is in decline.

According to this survey, it's because of our "breakdown of traditional
institutions" (ie--two-parent heterosexual homes), and our "erosion of
family values".

Wanna bet we're in the top 10 by the time Bush leaves office?


The fact that it still
attracts large numbers is a function of its former reputation and its
size. The best and brightest of foreigners won't be coming here, and
many who do come here leave to return to their homelands, which offer
more opportunities and a safer environment.

Is it possible that virtually the entire world population is
truly stupid, and that the UN bureaucrats are the only smart ones?

It's mostly the United States that seems to be acting stupid.

I never thought that while I was watching the rise of the United States
during my lifetime, I'd also see its decline. But I am.

Then quit being so resistant to the loud message that the moral majority
sent on November 2nd.